How To Use A Rice Cooker To Make Rice Easily

Preparing rice has been made easier by the use of a rice cooker. This device is quick and efficient as it requires minimal attendance. It is suitable especially for individuals who are busy and do not have a lot of time to spend cooking. It allows one to run some other errands as he awaits the meal. The appliance does not need a burner therefore, it can be used anywhere as long as there is electricity.

Measure the amount of rice to be cooked and put it into the cooking pot. Use the measuring cup that accompanies the cooker or opt for your own scooper. Cookers are made in a variety of sizes ranging from small to industrial size depending on the volume of the cooking pot. Take into consideration that rice will triple in volume when it is cooked, so use the proper size that has a tight fitting lid.

Rinse the rice in cold water until the water is considerably clean. Run tap water in the bowl while stirring the rice until the pot is full of water. Then drain as much water as you can. This procedure ensures that the rice is cleaned from any contamination before cooking. However, not all varieties of rice need rinsing. Some varieties are coated with nutrients which would dissolve in water if washed which can be avoided by following instructions on the packaging.

The next step also depends on the variety of rice being prepared. Some varieties will require soaking before cooking. Soaking is meant to soften the grains and make the cooked rice fluffy. It is therefore recommended that when preparing rice varieties that are considered sticky, drain the rice well to ensure that it does not interfere with the cooking proportions.

The time taken for the cooker to turn off is determined by the water to be evaporated from the rice. It is therefore, important to make sure that water is put in the right proportions to ensure that the rice is not under or overcooked. Use the cooker’s inscribed scale to settle on the right amounts or consult the manufacturer’s recipe and manually measure the amounts required.

Season your rice at this stage. Get all the grains settled on the sides of the pot to settle below the water surface and level out the rice. Wipe the outside of the pot dry using a piece of cloth.

Place the pot into the cooker and turn the power switch on. Do not try to open the lid during the coking process. The automatic switch of the cooker relies on the temperature levels inside the pot to control the cooking process and thus letting in cold air would destabilize the temperatures. The cooker will turn off automatically when the rice is ready. Some cookers will have timers to indicate how much time is remaining or even a beep alert when the rice is ready.

Modern rice cookers have more advanced settings for different varieties and can digitally indicate the cooking time through out the cooking process. They can also automatically go on on-mode and off-modes. The inside of the pot is sensitive and can be easily scratched. Therefore, care should be taken when serving.

John McKain is the owner of several blogs including a rice cooker review blog. Many rice cooker reviews of the top rated rice cooker models can be found in his blog including the Aroma 8 cup rice cooker review, Sanyo ECJ D55S review, and NS-ZCC10 review.